Omnibus Directive 2023: Key Changes for Physical Stores and eCommerce in Italy

The Omnibus Directive, recently implemented in Italy, has triggered a shake-up for physical stores and eCommerce alike. This new law introduces significant changes to policies on discounts, reviews, unfair commercial practices and penalties. Its main goal is to promote transparency in communications, helping consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.

Discounts and Price Reductions

The Omnibus Directive introduces specific rules for communicating price reductions. Now, every discount announcement must state:1. The lowest price applied in the 30 days before the discount was announced2. The aim is to prevent fake discounts or decoy pricing

Product Placement in the Marketplace

Marketplace operators will now have to explain the criteria used to rank and display listings in relation to the search term entered, making the classification process more transparent.

Penalties for unfair commercial practices and unfair terms in B2C contracts have increased:1. From 5 to 10 million euros for general violations2. Up to 4% of turnover or 2 million euros for violations involving at least two EU member states.

The Omnibus Directive expands the list of unfair commercial practices to include:1. Dual quality2.Lack of clarity in paid advertisements3. Secondary ticketing

Implications for Physical Stores and eCommerce

The Omnibus Directive introduces new rules on reviews:1. A ban on publishing fake reviews2. A ban on omitting negative reviews3. A requirement to state whether reviews come from genuine customers.

In an era dominated by online sales, the implementation of the Omnibus Directive in Italy carries deep implications for both eCommerce businesses and physical stores. Companies will need to ensure transparency across their commercial processes, from managing reviews to communicating price reductions.

Madeinevolve's Role in Adapting to the Omnibus Directive

Faced with these significant changes, Evolve has already begun taking steps to comply with the new regulations. Recognising the importance of transparent, accurate price communication, Evolve is developing a dedicated application for its eCommerce services.
This application will be designed to track and store every price change for its products. This way, the last price applied over the previous 30 days will always be visible, in line with the new provisions of the Omnibus Directive. This feature not only ensures regulatory compliance, but also helps build trust with consumers by giving them clear, accurate information.

Evolve is committed to sharing further details on any costs and timelines relating to the rollout of this application as soon as they become available. This is just one of the ways Evolve is working to keep pace with the new regulations, ensuring maximum transparency and fairness in its commercial processes.
In short, the European Union is placing consumer protection at the centre of attention with the introduction of the Omnibus Directive. Adapting to these new regulations is essential to guarantee transparency and fairness in commercial relationships between sellers and consumers.

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